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The Green Party will start negotiations on a government program with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
The Greens held a parliamentary meeting by conference call this afternoon that approved the measure, paving the way for formal negotiations to begin later this week.
In a statement, the party confirmed the move, saying that “it would now work with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to develop an agreement that respects our mandate in order to present that agreement to members of the Green Party for approval.
He notes that a two-thirds majority among members is required for approval.
“Any proposal must be transformative in climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society,” he said.
If this is not the case, he says, “Green Party representatives will withdraw from the negotiations and pursue their mandate in the opposition and work to hold the government to account.”
Green party leader Eamon Ryan will now seek a meeting with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders to begin the process.
Ryan, who has been in constant contact with Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, requested further clarification and commitments from the two sides to help secure the consent of his parliamentary party to start conversations about a new government.
It is understood that these involved stronger commitments on some issues and technical clarifications on others.
The Irish Times understands that Ryan received another letter from the two party leaders this weekend, which he brought to the parliamentary party and put forward the proposal to start talks.
Ryan had the support of a clear parliamentary party majority for the measure, but significant opposition was voiced. There were fears at the party this weekend for a division over the government issue.
Negotiations between representatives of the three parties are likely to begin in the coming days on a program for the government. Sources say this is likely to take up much of the rest of the month, with party leaders seeking the backing of their parties to enter the government on the basis of the document.
This would mean, if the parties approve, that a new government was formed in mid-June at the earliest.
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